Reports of rising costs, aging populations, budget cuts, and physician burnout can be distressing for medical professionals. Politicians tout polarizing viewpoints about how to address healthcare inequalities and improve outcomes. Litigation and insurance companies seem to have an increasing-and for some-unwelcome presence in patient care. However, it is also exciting that our society today so highly values healthcare that it is a topic of heated debate. When many news outlets focus on trivial pop culture news, it is refreshing that our peers and politicians spend their time seeking to improve a system that so deeply affects our lives. It is comforting to know that issues of life and death-as well as quality of life-are not lost. There is passion in the discussion of the future of healthcare and for that, we can be grateful.

What is the Future of Healthcare in the United States?

Journal of the Louisiana State Medical Society : Official Organ of the Louisiana State Medical Society

Deaths from the majority of cancers are falling globally, but the incidence and mortality from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing in the United Kingdom and in other Western countries. HCC is a highly fatal cancer, often diagnosed late, with an incidence to mortality ratio that approaches 1. Despite there being a number of treatment options, including those associated with good medium to long-term survival, 5-year survival from HCC in the UK remains below 20%. Sex, ethnicity and deprivation are important demographics for the incidence of, and/or survival from, HCC. These clinical practice guidelines will provide evidence-based advice for the assessment and management of patients with HCC. The clinical and scientific data underpinning the recommendations we make are summarised in detail. Much of the content will have broad relevance, but the treatment algorithms are based on therapies that are available in the UK and have regulatory approval for use in the National Health Service.

British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma in adults.

Lung ultrasound for diagnosis and management of ARDS.

Intensive Care Medicine

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystemic autoimmune disease characterised by the presence of autoantibodies towards nuclear antigens, immune complex deposition, and chronic inflammation at classic target organs such as skin, joints, and kidneys. Despite substantial advances in the diagnosis and management of SLE, the burden of disease remains high. It is important to appreciate the typical presentations and the diagnostic process to facilitate early referral and diagnosis for patients. In most patients, constitutional, mucocutaneous, and musculoskeletal symptoms represent the earliest complaints; these symptoms can include fatigue, lupus-specific rash, mouth ulcers, alopecia, joint pain, and myalgia. In this Seminar we will discuss a diagnostic approach to symptoms in light of the latest classification criteria, which include a systematic evaluation of clinical manifestations (weighted within each domain) and autoantibody profiles (such as anti-double-stranded DNA, anti-Sm, hypocomplementaemia, or antiphospholipid antibodies). Non-pharmacotherapy management is tailored to the individual, with specific lifestyle interventions and patient education to improve quality of life and medication (such as hydroxychloroquine or immunosuppressant) adherence. In the last decade, there have been a few major breakthroughs in approved treatments for SLE and lupus nephritis, such as belimumab, anifrolumab, and voclosporin. However the disease course remains variable and mortality unacceptably high. Access to these expensive medications has also been restricted across different regions of the world. Nonetheless, understanding of treatment goals and strategies has improved. We recognise that the main goal of treatment is the achievement of remission or low disease activity. Comorbidities due to both disease activity and treatment adverse effects, especially infections, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease, necessitate vigilant prevention and management strategies. Tailoring treatment options to achieve remission, while balancing treatment-related comorbidities, are priority areas of SLE management.

Systemic lupus erythematosus.

Lancet

Many patients undergoing surgical procedures have a history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart failure, or a combination. Often, these conditions involve the chronic use of a renin-angiotensin system inhibitor, including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). Observational studies have suggested that continuing ACEIs/ARBs before major noncardiac surgery can increase the risk of intraoperative hypotension, which might drive postoperative complications such as acute kidney injury, myocardial injury, or stroke. Strong recommendations on how to manage ACEIs/ARBs before surgery are, however, lacking owing to insufficient evidence, mostly limited to data from observational studies. Recently, the SPACE trial investigated the impact of preoperative management of ACEIs/ARBs on postoperative myocardial injury. Myocardial injury occurred in 48.3% patients randomised to discontinue and 41.3% patients randomised to continue ACEI/ARB (odds ratio for continuing: 0.77, 95% confidence interval 0.45-1.31). Patients randomised to the 'Stop' group experienced more postoperative hypertension. In a post hoc analysis, patients randomised to the 'Continue' group with low preoperative NT-proBNP concentrations (&lt;100 pg ml-1 ) experienced less myocardial injury after surgery than the 'Stop' group, whereas no significant difference was observed in patients with elevated preoperative NT-proBNP concentrations. The SPACE trial provides important and new reassuring data on the safety of continuing ACEIs/ARBs before major surgery, challenging previous beliefs.

Should renin-angiotensin system inhibitors be held prior to major surgery?

British Journal of Anaesthesia

Ventilator Waveforms May Give Clues to Expiratory Muscle Activity.

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

Dapagliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i), has shown demonstrated benefits for renal and cardiovascular outcomes in large clinical trials. However, short-term concerns regarding its impact on renal function and electrolyte balance exist. This study aimed to evaluate the short-term effects of dapagliflozin on renal function and electrolyte balance in patients newly prescribed the medication. A retrospective analysis of 246 patients who initiated dapagliflozin therapy was conducted. Serum creatinine, sodium, and potassium levels were measured at baseline (before dapagliflozin) and 5-8 days after initiation (endpoint). A Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Pearson's chi-square test, and Fischer's exact test were used for the data analysis. Glycemia and sodium levels were significantly higher at the baseline compared to the endpoint ( p &lt; 0.001). Conversely, creatinine and potassium levels were significantly higher at the endpoint than at the baseline ( p &lt; 0.001). The prevalence of hyponatremia and hyperkalemia were increased at the endpoint (17.5% vs. 10.2% and 16.7% vs. 8.9%, respectively). Although not statistically significant, a trend towards increased hyponatremia with the co-administration of furosemide was observed ( p = 0.089). No significant association was found between potassium-sparing medications ( p &gt; 0.05) and hyperkalemia, except for angiotensin receptor blockers ( p = 0.017). The combination of dapagliflozin and furosemide significantly increased the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) at the endpoint ( p = 0.006). Age, gender, and chronic kidney disease status did not significantly influence the occurrence of AKI, hyponatremia, or hyperkalemia ( p &gt; 0.05). These findings emphasize the importance of the close monitoring of renal function and electrolyte balance, particularly in the early stages of dapagliflozin therapy, especially in patients receiving diuretics or renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors.

Acute Kidney Injury and Electrolyte Imbalances Caused by Dapagliflozin Short-Term Use.

Pharmaceuticals

1: &#x2002;ESGE recommends cold snare polypectomy (CSP), to include a clear margin of normal tissue (1-2&#x200a;mm) surrounding the polyp, for the removal of diminutive polyps (&#x2264;&#x200a;5&#x200a;mm).Strong recommendation, high quality of evidence. 2: &#x2002;ESGE recommends against the use of cold biopsy forceps excision because of its high rate of incomplete resection.Strong recommendation, moderate quality of evidence. 3: &#x2002;ESGE recommends CSP, to include a clear margin of normal tissue (1-2&#x200a;mm) surrounding the polyp, for the removal of small polyps (6-9&#x200a;mm).Strong recommendation, high quality of evidence. 4: &#x2002;ESGE recommends hot snare polypectomy for the removal of nonpedunculated adenomatous polyps of 10-19&#x200a;mm in size.Strong recommendation, high quality of evidence. 5: &#x2002;ESGE recommends conventional (diathermy-based) endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) for large (&#x2265;&#x200a;20&#x200a;mm) nonpedunculated adenomatous polyps (LNPCPs).Strong recommendation, high quality of evidence. 6: &#x2002;ESGE suggests that underwater EMR can be considered an alternative to conventional hot EMR for the treatment of adenomatous LNPCPs.Weak recommendation, moderate quality of evidence. 7: &#x2002;Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) may also be suggested as an alternative for removal of LNPCPs of &#x2265;&#x200a;20&#x200a;mm in selected cases and in high-volume centers.Weak recommendation, low quality evidence. 8: &#x2002;ESGE recommends that, after piecemeal EMR of LNPCPs by hot snare, the resection margins should be treated by thermal ablation using snare-tip soft coagulation to prevent adenoma recurrence.Strong recommendation, high quality of evidence. 9: &#x2002;ESGE recommends (piecemeal) cold snare polypectomy or cold EMR for SSLs of all sizes without suspected dysplasia.Strong recommendation, moderate quality of evidence. 10: &#x2002;ESGE recommends prophylactic endoscopic clip closure of the mucosal defect after EMR of LNPCPs in the right colon to reduce to reduce the risk of delayed bleeding.Strong recommendation, high quality of evidence. 11: &#x2002;ESGE recommends that en bloc resection techniques, such as en bloc EMR, ESD, endoscopic intermuscular dissection, endoscopic full-thickness resection, or surgery should be the techniques of choice in cases with suspected superficial invasive carcinoma, which otherwise cannot be removed en bloc by standard polypectomy or EMR.Strong recommendation, moderate quality of evidence.

Colorectal polypectomy and endoscopic mucosal resection: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Guideline - Update 2024.

Endoscopy

In this comprehensive state-of-the-art review, we provide an evidence-based analysis of current drug therapies for patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in the acute and chronic phases with concurrent hypertension. Additionally, we explore the latest developments and emerging evidence on the efficacy, safety, and clinical outcomes of common and novel drug treatments in the management of HFpEF with concurrent hypertension. During the acute phase of HFpEF, intravenous diuretics, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), and vasodilators are pivotal, while in the chronic phase, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers have proven effective in enhancing clinical outcomes. However, the use of calcium channel blockers in HFpEF with hypertension should be approached with caution, owing to their potential negative inotropic effects. We also explored emerging drug therapies for HFpEF, such as sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI), soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulators, novel MRAs, and ivabradine. Notably, SGLT2 inhibitors have shown promise in reducing heart failure hospitalizations and cardiovascular mortality in patients with HFpEF, regardless of their diabetic status. Additionally, ARNI and sGC stimulators have demonstrated potential in improving symptoms, functional capacity, and quality of life. Nonetheless, additional research is necessary to pinpoint optimal treatment strategies for HFpEF with concurrent hypertension. Furthermore, long-term studies are essential to assess the durability and sustained benefits of emerging drug therapies. Identification of novel targets and mechanisms underlying HFpEF pathophysiology will pave the way for innovative drug development approaches in the management of HFpEF with concurrent hypertension.

Drug Therapy for Acute and Chronic Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction with Hypertension: A State-of-the-Art Review.

American Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs : Drugs, Devices, and Other Interventions

Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) has become the third leading cause of hospital-acquired AKI, which seriously threatens the health of patients. To date, the precise pathogenesis of CI-AKI has remained not clear and may be related to the direct cytotoxicity, hypoxia and ischemia of medulla, and oxidative stress caused by iodine contrast medium, which have diverse physicochemical properties, including cytotoxicity, permeability and viscosity. The latest research shows that microRNAs (miRNAs) are also involved in apoptosis, pyroptosis, and autophagy which caused by iodine contrast medium (ICM), which may be implicated in the pathogenesis of CI-AKI. Unfortunately, effective therapy of CI-AKI is very limited at present. Therefore, effective prevention of CI-AKI is of great significance, and several preventive options, including hydration, antagonistic vasoconstriction, and antioxidant drugs, have been developed. Here, we review current knowledge about the features of iodine contrast medium, the definition, pathogenesis, molecular mechanism, risk factors, prevention and treatment of CI-AKI.

What is the Future of Healthcare in the United States?

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